Ecology Test

Front

What is a food web?

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow through different trophic levels.

Front

What happens to predator populations when prey populations decline?

Back

Predator populations, such as foxes, may decrease when their prey, like rabbits, decline due to reduced food availability.

Front

How does latitude affect biomes?

Back

Latitude influences climate, which is the primary factor in biome classification. For example, tundra is found in polar regions, while taiga is slightly closer to the equator.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.

Front

What is the impact of a population exceeding its carrying capacity?

Back

A population above its carrying capacity will experience a decrease in natural resources, leading to potential starvation and population decline.

Front

What is the primary factor influencing biome classification?

Back

Climate is the primary factor that influences biome classification, affecting temperature, precipitation, and seasonal variations.

Front

What are nonnative species?

Back

Nonnative species are organisms that are introduced to an ecosystem where they do not naturally occur, which can disrupt local ecosystems.

Front

How can nonnative plant species affect native ecosystems?

Back

Nonnative plant species can take over habitats of native plants, reducing biodiversity and altering ecosystem dynamics.

Front

What is the role of competition in ecosystems?

Back

Competition occurs when organisms vie for the same resources, such as food, space, or light, which can influence population dynamics and community structure.

Front

What is an example of a trophic level?

Back

An example of a trophic level is primary producers, such as plants, which convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.